The Croatian language originates from the development of more than 900 years of literature in a combination of Croatian Church Slavonic and vernacular language. However, the Croatian Church Slavonic was obsolete by the mid-1400s., while vernacular Croatian literature has existed for more than 500 years. Croatian is also based on the Liotokavian dialect, written with the Latin alphabet. The majority of Croats are Roman Catholics. However, Muslims and Protestants also exist in the region, as well as Serbs, who follow the traditions of the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Croatia is rich in folk music history, with a mixture of varied music styles. Most common are the Tambura players and violinists, as well as a Croatian mandolin which accompanies the lively Slavic Kolo dance. The guitar and accordion of Dalmatia have a distinct Italian flavour.

The best Roman architectural remains of the country are in Pula and Split. Diocletian’s Palace in Split and the amphitheatre in Pula are attractive cultural venues, as well as Roman sites in Zadar and Salona. Numerous smaller excavation finds are exhibited at the archaeological museum in Split. Dubrovnik, Korcula, Sibenik, Trogir and Zadar are towns with impressive architecture. The heart of Trogir is surrounded by medieval walls, with a preserved tower and castle, as well as a series of dwellings from the Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque periods. Trogir’s Church of St Lawrence is one of the best examples of Romanesque-Gothic-style architecture in the country. Byzantine wall mosaics can be found in the Euphrasian Basilica of Porec in Istria, and Croatian coastal towns display a mixture of Roman-, Renaissance- and Baroque-style structures. The city of Varazdin boasts the richest Baroque architecture, while Zagreb is a typical European city with Secessionist and Neo-Baroque styles. The best preserved medieval fortified towns are Dubrovnik and Korcula, while the islands of Korcula and Hvar were once Venetian naval strongholds.